You Don’t Need a HR Department to Conduct Great Performance Reviews

Performance Reviews are quintessential to the successful operation of any business, but having an official review process in place is sometimes easier said than done. At Dejan SEO, we’ve introduced formal half-yearly performance review process a while ago. Since we don’t have a HR department, I was always double-guessing if we’re doing it right. So, for the latest round, we decided to bring in a consultant from Recruitment Coach, who would oversee the process, before, during and after 1-on-1 sessions. They also gave us instructions and feedback during the process and I kept notes so that we’re better prepared when it comes to review time again.

Below is the summary of the process that we went through, I hope you find it useful.

Preparing for Review Meetings

Regular review meetings are vital in ensuring that your employees meet performance expectations and remain satisfied in their roles.

As a general rule, plan for all your performance review meetings at the start of the review period. This will provide you with a larger framework of how performances are managed and is much more beneficial than organising meetings ‘on the fly.’

If there is any reading material, you should distribute this to the employee at least 1-2 weeks beforehand.

The First Review Meeting

During the first meeting, you should set goals and expectations for the employee. You can start these meetings with phrases such as, “thank you for taking the time to attend this review, I really appreciate your…”

At Dejan, we found that this structure worked extremely well for first-time meetings:

Explain to the employee how the Performance Review process works and what ‘rating’ systems are used (e.g. 1-5 stars). You may also like to describe how performances affect pay/bonuses.

Clarify details regarding the employee’s job function, duties and general expectations and goals. If possible, these should be related to any measurement programs or models you have in place for the organisation.

Go through any supporting documents with the employee, such as their job description and/or material related to KPI and goal management. You can also use this time to make any amendments to the job description or KPIs.

Setting Goals & KPIs

Every employee needs goals to work towards and KPIs to effectively measure their performance.

The S.M.A.R.T. method of setting goals is a good one to follow. To initiate the conversation, I often use language such as, “let’s work together to create some goals/KPIs for you. Is that okay?”

Specific – Each goal and KPI should focus around one, specific objective only. You should make sure there are both technical/skills-based and non-technical/behavioural indicators associated with each goal.

Measurable – How will you measure/assess each goal or KPI? Will measures be quantitative (based on numbers/scores) or qualitative (based on feedback)?

Attainable – Ensure goals and KPIs are achievable and that they encourage the employee to excel and progress.

Relevant – Listen to the employee’s motivations and needs in regards to what they want to achieve or how they see their role growing within the company. Don’t forget to link KPIs to company or department goals/missions too.

Time-based – Your discussion should incorporate both long-term and short-term goals and each should be given a specific “deadline” for review/achievement.

Employee Motivation

At this point, you may also like to discuss what the employee’s motivations are in the role. Motivations can be related to professional development, experience, promotions, culture, career goals and money. Finding out what motivates your employees will allow you to gauge their strengths/weaknesses and can inform the goals and objectives you set for them.

Some empowering questions about motivation that I use include:

How would you like to receive recognition and what would you like to receive for a job well done?

Who was the best/worst manager you’ve ever worked with? Why?

What three things will sustain your loyalty and job satisfaction?

What three things would make you want to leave?

What three things will most help you improve in the role?

Explaining & Measuring Behaviours

Common sense usually tells us how we should behave in the workplace, but outlining some key behaviours on paper for your employees can help inform and shape their on-the-job performance. Ask the employee, “What behaviours do you value in the workplace?” and “What behaviours do you think are inappropriate?”

You can also give the employee some practical tools for managing their own behaviour and the behaviour of others. This can include suggestions like:

“Speak to and listen to others in the same way you wanted to be spoken to and listened to”

“Set boundaries on how you want or expect to be treated” and train others to treat you in appropriate ways

“Maintain a positive and open attitude when communicating to create flow and synergy in the workplace”

Appraisals & Follow-Up Meetings

Appraisals and follow-up meetings should be held at specific times throughout the year. If your employee is new, you might hold a follow-up meeting after they have passed probation. For current employees, a follow-up meeting mid-way through the year or at the end of each quarter may be most beneficial.

Appraisals and subsequent Performance Reviews should include:

A positive reminder of how far they employee has come; you can ask them to perform a self-appraisal in the first instance, before you move on with your review and feedback.

A review of each goal and KPI and how/if the employee achieved it. You should ask the employee what he/she learned from the process, what was done excellently and what could be improved next time. Use the rating system you have established to evaluate each achievement.

A discussion about whether any goals, KPIs or general expectations should change.

A discussion about any negative aspects of the employee’s progress or behaviour. When giving negative feedback, remain honest, clear and professional.

If the employee has performed spectacularly, you can also use this opportunity to discuss any rewards, promotions or monetary returns.

Reviewing Your Manager-Employee Relationship

Your review should end with an open discussion on the dynamics of your manager-employee relationship. Ask the employee for honest feedback and inquire what you could do to further support them.

Some great questions that encourage open dialogue include:

What can I do to motivate you more?

How can I be more helpful in regards to your tasks/duties?

Do you want me to be more involved or less involved with your role?

How can I contribute to your learning, experience and education on the job?

If you were in my shoes, what would you change?

At the end of the day, make sure that everything you discuss and decide with your employee is documented. This makes it easy for you both to refer back to what has been talked about and will give you a strong platform for each separate performance review.

Like the summary or have something to add? Please let us know by commenting or interact with us.

Mihajlo Naumovic works as a Chief Operating Officer at Dejan SEO. With experience in project management and operations since 2008, Mihajlo offers advice in effective management of time and resources within technology sector pertaining to online marketing and SEO.

I have worked in companies with HR departments and you still don’t have HR doing the performance review. You would always have your direct line manager doing a performance review. The thing with SEO and online marketing some times it can be tricky to set KPI’s you really need to work with your employees to set KPI’s every one can agree with and work towards achieving.

James Norquay

Wednesday June 12, 2013 at 9:08 pm

Not only do you not need an HR department, but we’d all best be served if we ditched all the forms foisted off on managers and employees. It’s about clarity of communication, not form filling. For a video on why perhaps HR should be out of the business of performance reviews, check out: http://performance-appraisals.org/myvids/hrout.htm